Red, White and Blue is a powerful, visceral and oddly touching thriller/slash movie. It's also very sophisticated storytelling with temporal shifts and three protagonist characters who function as both the killer and the prey.

MoreRed, White and Blue is a powerful, visceral and oddly touching thriller/slash movie. It's also very sophisticated storytelling with temporal shifts and three protagonist characters who function as both the killer and the prey.

Erica (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER's Amanda Fuller) is a tough, troubled nymphomaniac with wounds across her soul. For Erica, sleeping with multiple men forms the core of her life, until she meets the mysterious Iraq vet Nate (THE PROPOSITION's Noah Taylor). Despite his quiet air of danger, Nate's the only guy who doesn't immediately want to sleep with her, and the two form a hesitant bond. But in a shocking twist, one of Erica's earlier sexual encounters, with wannabe rock star Franki (Marc Senter), will have unexpected - and devastating - consequences on both of their lives. Hard-edged and uncompromising, the film has already been compared to the works of such disparate filmmakers as Larry Clark and Sam Peckinpah.

Red, White and Blue is Rumley's follow up to the acclaimed British horror film The Living & The Dead.-- (C) IFC

Influences of helmers like Larry Clark and Wes Craven are pronounced: The first half is pure montage, foregoing slick visuals so the characters' personalities, coupled with a disturbing stillness, take root.

This Amerindie's horror elements are actually its least interesting aspects; you wish that British director Simon Rumley had stuck with that first half's beguiling look at a new, weird Americana and left the exploitation trappings to lesser filmmakers.

I'm not a fan of unnecessary violence in movies but when it's delivered in a psychological fashion like Michael Haneke's "Funny Games"… MoreI'm not a fan of unnecessary violence in movies but when it's delivered in a psychological fashion like Michael Haneke's "Funny Games" or possibly Shane Meadows' "Dead Man's Shoes" then I can certainly go with it and respect the skill of the filmmaker. This shares some similarities with those aforementioned films but ultimately became far too savage and obstinate for me to fully appreciate.
Erica (Amanda Fuller) is promiscuous Texan woman who has frequent, casual sexual relations with different men and completely indiscriminate in her choice of partners. One night she meets Iraqi Vet, Nate (Noah Taylor) and strikes up a genuine affection and friendship. However, Erica goes missing one day and Nate decides to look for her which uncovers some wrong doing and also brings out a sociopathic nature in the seemingly gentle Veteran.
A film of two halves: The first, slow and methodical as it builds the relationships between the characters. During this time, it's filled with empty and loveless sexual encounters. It has a deliberate pace that may lose the interest of some viewers during this time. However, the second half of the film picks up the pace considerably and relentlessly. It's filled with violence and retribution and falls into torture porn territory with a frighteningly realistic and ambiguous performance from Noah Taylor. It's a shift in tone I wasn't fully prepared for and, as a result, found it a little hard to stomach. This is saying something, as just days before, I had sat down to the dark and disturbing William Friedkin film "Killer Joe" and enjoyed it immensely. The content of that movie was was no picnic (in more ways than one) but this film outstripped even that in terms of it's lasting and unsettling effect. If I had fully known what I was getting into with this, I'd probably have avoided it. That being said, I can't fault the construction and skill of director Simon Rumley on his pervading sense of dread or commentary on modern America but the resultant material just isn't for me. The most interesting aspect is seeing Noah Taylor flex his acting chops in a style that we're unaccustomed to and proves that despite still being relatively undervalued, he's a very fine actor.
A stark and uncompromising film that's very well handled but when it's disturbing and violent nature takes hold, the content is very tough going.

Luke Compton

This vicious and brutal drama often felt too slow burning and art house to thoroughly compel. It opens up with focus on a kind of lowlife woman who jumps from… MoreThis vicious and brutal drama often felt too slow burning and art house to thoroughly compel. It opens up with focus on a kind of lowlife woman who jumps from man to man spreading her HIV. And from then it doesn't hold back but, these scenes can be few and far between but inbetween the sex and graphic violence is a slow burning un-stereotypical romance between the main characters. But midway through the film it developed into something much more interesting and captivating. Near the end the viewer is glued to the screen while watching some really horrific torture scenes. Rememiscent to films like 'A clockwork orange', it is laid out in a very art house character development feel and having a 'Sleeping Beauty' style but then a pivotal plot point exposes a much darker and interesting side to the movie. Most of the violence in this film is left to your imagination with quick cuts during the most brutal moments. Overall this film has the art house style mixed with the intense and graphic violence you have seen before, it will entertain you but just expect it to drag on longer than it should.

Ed Fucking Harris

Jesus H Christ, I was definently not expecting that! This is probably the best new film I've seen in a long time. I'm hesitant to label this a horror… MoreJesus H Christ, I was definently not expecting that! This is probably the best new film I've seen in a long time. I'm hesitant to label this a horror film even though it does have those elements in it. What this is is a visceral, disturbing, uncomfortable and unsettling film that is meticulously told. Ultimately there are no good or bad characters in this film. All characters display enough of both sides of the spectrum to both exert an emotional response from the audience and a repulsiveness with the way the three main characters behave throughout the film. There are no easy answers here, and why should there be? Real life is messy and so is this film. The sex and violence are never overly graphic, but that isn't to say that they are tame either. It really is incredible how graphic it seems actually when very little is actually shown, really what good filmmaking is all about. The plot unravels in a wholly unique way that is uncomparable to anything I've ever seen before, and keeps you with your jaw to the floor and at the edge of your seat from the begining to the end. When the movie is done, it stays under your skin and is truly upsetting. I really can't recommend this movie enough. I havent seen any of director Simon Rumley's other films, but I'm going to have to check out some of his back catalog now. If his earlier films are half as good as this they'll be much better than most, and I'll definently be looking forward to hatever he does next.

Lorenzo von Matterhorn

<i>"Three lives... bound together in blood"</i>
Film follows the cool, emotionless Erica, who dives into bed with any man she meets. When… More<i>"Three lives... bound together in blood"</i>
Film follows the cool, emotionless Erica, who dives into bed with any man she meets. When she is offered a job in a DIY store in Austin, she discovers the kindness of strangers, but also the gruesome shadowy side of it.
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One of the best revenge dramas I have ever seen. Brutal and compelling and shot in the seedier parts of Austin, Texas by British director Simon Rumley on a very low budget, it's enhanced by the very fine cast (which includes some respected though not very famous actors, including Noah Taylor playing niftily against character). The movie is about essentially a love (or perhaps death) triangle: Nate, an Iraq war veteran in his thirties who looks edgy and might be somewhat disturbed and Franki, a drummer in an upcoming garage band are the men whose life is intersected through Erica, an attractive girl whose life is a mess working at odd jobs as well as the occasional gig as a prostitute. A sexually transmitted disease will unleash a terrible mayhem of death and revenge. I don't want to add more about the plot, but the results can be brutal in the extreme, even if the climactic act of violence is shot off camera. Starts somewhat slow, and it takes its time to develop its plot, but the third and final act will leave everyone speechless.

Jeffrey Meyers

A very dark film, with a compelling story that is hindered by an overly sluggish pace with an overuse of elliptical editing. That said, it's certainly an… MoreA very dark film, with a compelling story that is hindered by an overly sluggish pace with an overuse of elliptical editing. That said, it's certainly an unique film, with fairly strong direction.

Jacob Palacio

A very awesome thriller. Very graphic, just the way I like it!

Francisco Godinho

One of the most interesting recent cause-effect revenge flick, Red White And Blue is a complex morality tale that doesn't offer easy answers and packs a… MoreOne of the most interesting recent cause-effect revenge flick, Red White And Blue is a complex morality tale that doesn't offer easy answers and packs a very violent punch on the last 40mins or so. But not all the violence is physical as what preceeded it is devastating, saddening and the collision course these three characters are set onto will leave scars all around.
A bleak look at how little events can cause big things, Red White And Blue is a simply made movie, but everything it does, it does so remarkably well. It's not very original but with such a strong cast and tight scrip, you can't get much better than this.